KAALtv.com

White Bear Lake Group Sues DNR Over Lake Levels

A group of White Bear Lake residents and business owners are suing the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources claiming the agency's practices have contributed to falling levels at the lake north of St. Paul.

The group filed suit Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act, which lets citizens sue to protect natural resources. The Pioneer Press reports a study earlier this year by the federal government found municipal groundwater pumping by the DNR is a contributing factor to declining lake levels since the early 2000s.

DNR spokesman Chris Niskanen says the agency has no comment.

Attorney Jan Conlin says the plaintiffs don't necessarily think the DNR can fix the lake on its own but that the lawsuit is intended to begin addressing the problem.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)